Award-Winning Residences in Dubai: Craft, Vision, and Flawless Delivery

By Vellum & Forge Editorial

A New Standard for Luxury Villas in Dubai

Dubai’s villa landscape is evolving beyond spectacle. Two standout projects — Dragonfly at La Mer and Monsella at Pearl Jumeirah — have recently been recognised as award-winning residences, setting new standards in residential design and execution.

The concepts were bold, but the story of their success lies in how Designsmith, one of Dubai’s most respected build and fit-out specialists, delivered them. In a city where many projects dazzle but few endure, Designsmith’s ability to transform ambitious architectural vision into timeless, impeccably finished homes distinguishes these residences on the world stage .

Dragonfly: Precision in Curves

Dragonfly is a ~2,500 m² villa where light, sea, and architecture flow seamlessly. But behind its serenity lies immense complexity:

• Curvilinear Architecture: Dragonfly’s sweeping forms demanded customised structural engineering.
  

• Material Junctions: Where stone, glass, and steel met, millimetre-precise alignment was vital.
  

• Finish Integrity: With ultra-high-end finishes, even the smallest tolerance misstep would have compromised the design.
  

Designsmith implemented strict on-site quality controls and engineered bespoke solutions to bring the villa’s fluid forms into reality. Their execution ensured that Dragonfly is not just visually stunning but structurally and materially perfected for longevity .

Monsella: Choreographing Complexity

On Pearl Jumeirah, Monsella showcases a different challenge: scale and sequencing.

• Large-Scale Integration: Coordinating structural works, interiors, MEP systems, and bespoke joinery demanded rigorous project management.
  

• Aggressive Timelines: Maintaining design integrity while meeting deadlines required exceptional orchestration of trades.
  

• Joinery as Signature: Custom joinery brought warmth and bespoke detail to expansive interiors, elevating Monsella beyond grandeur into refined comfort.
  

The result? Monsella has been celebrated internationally as a benchmark for residential elegance balanced with technical mastery .

Why Designsmith’s Role Matters

In Dubai, where architectural concepts are ambitious and expectations uncompromising, execution is the make-or-break factor. Designsmith has over 35 years of experience in the UAE, with a team of 800+ across construction, interiors, and joinery. Their credibility comes from their ability to:

• Engineer bespoke structural and finishing solutions.
  

• Coordinate cross-trade sequencing with precision.
  

• Deliver projects that preserve the purity of architectural intent.
  

This delivery excellence has won them not just projects, but also recognition at the identity Design Awards 2024, where their public space project “Stellaire” was Highly Commended .

The Vellum & Forge Parallel: Craft Anchored in Permanence

At Vellum & Forge, we recognise the same principles that elevate Dragonfly and Monsella:

• Timeless Craft: Just as Designsmith holds tolerances on site, we forge hardware from solid brass and bronze, designed to age with grace.
  

• Invisible Precision: Behind every serene villa form lies engineering mastery; behind every V&F handle lies machining exactness and artisanal hand-finishing.
  

• Luxury as Longevity: Where Monsella integrates design with function, we design pulls, knobs, and levers that will serve not just years, but generations.
  

Both approaches converge on a single philosophy: true luxury is not spectacle, but endurance.

The Future of Dubai’s Residential Luxury

Dragonfly and Monsella are more than villas — they are case studies in what happens when architectural ambition is matched by flawless execution.

In a city known for pushing boundaries, these homes represent the new face of Dubai luxury: bold in concept, enduring in craft, seamless in delivery.

For designers, developers, and discerning clients, the message is clear: the future belongs to those who value both vision and precision.

And for Vellum & Forge, this is the cue — to continue crafting hardware that anchors interiors in permanence, while supporting the silent orchestration of modern living.

An Heirloom Approach. Tactile Intelligence. Considered Decisions.

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